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yī 一 shì 事 wú 无 chéng 成

一事无成 yī shì wú chéng

to achieve nothing; to get nowhere

Literally: one matter not accomplished

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Origin

From a poem by the Tang poet Bai Juyi: 鬓毛不觉白毵毵,一事无成百不堪 (my temples have gone white and I have accomplished nothing).

How to use it

Predicate; negative. Often 到现在还一事无成.

Example sentences

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  1. 他都三十岁了，还一事无成，父母很着急。
    Tā dōu sānshí suì le, hái yī shì wú chéng, fùmǔ hěn zháojí.
    He's already thirty and still hasn't achieved anything, and his parents are worried.
    he already thirty years (particle), still one matter not accomplished, parents very anxious
  2. 如果每天只玩不学，最后会一事无成。
    Rúguǒ měi tiān zhǐ wán bù xué, zuìhòu huì yī shì wú chéng.
    If you only play and never study, you'll end up achieving nothing.
    if every day only play not study, finally will one matter not accomplished

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